The media had a rough week when it comes to reporting on the federal government's multiple ongoing Russia investigations. Three stories in the past seven days have crumbled under greater scrutiny.

Why it matters: In today's hyperpolarized world, "fake news" has become a refrain to describe stories that observers on both sides of the spectrum decide that they don't like. These reporting issues by esteemed media organizations give credence to that ignorance, which further damages the value of insightful, impactful reporting — especially when it comes to one of the biggest, most polarizing stories of our political age: the Russia probe.

The misses

1. Flynn's testimony: Last Friday, ABC News reported that former national security advisor Michael Flynn was prepared to testify that President Trump, while still a candidate, directed him to contact Russian officials. But later in the day, the network issued a "clarification" that the direction came when Trump was president-elect. That changed the impact of the story entirely as it's a common occurrence for presidential transition teams to reach out to foreign governments.

2. Deutsche Bank subpoena: Reuters and Bloomberg both reported on Tuesday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation had subpoenaed Deutsche Bank for information on accounts relating to President Trump and his family members — seemingly confirming that Mueller had expanded his probe to investigate the president's financial dealings. The WSJ defused that bombshell in a follow-up report stating that the subpoenas actually dealt with "people or entities close to Mr. Trump."

3. WikiLeaks emails: CNN reported this morning that senior Trump campaign officials, including Trump himself, received an email from an unknown sender on September 4, 2016 that linked them to what could have been unreleased WikiLeaks documents. WaPo issued their own report later in the afternoon that the email was actually sent on September 14 — and linked to a trove of documents that WikiLeaks had publicly released a day earlier.

Robert Mueller was appointed to see whether or not there was collusion with Russia. It's been over a year, and there is no evidence that Donald J. Trump had any collusion with Russia, so it's time for Mueller to tell the American people what it is exactly that he's investigating

Mueller futzed around, and caught him some Russians! Now they want their day in court, by hiring American attorneys. THE PROBLEM, if he allows this, he will have to give "Disclosure", Then becoming, HIS OWN "LEAKER", of sensitive information to the Russians! The man could Not have built a better "mouse trap" for himself, if he tried!

Mueller Scrambles To Limit Evidence After Indicted Russians Actually Show Up In Court

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is scrambling to limit pretrial evidence handed over to a Russian company he indicted in February over alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, according to Bloomberg.

Mueller asked a Washington federal Judge for a protective order that would prevent the delivery of copious evidence to lawyers for Concord Management and Consulting, LLC, one of three Russian firms and 13 Russian nationals. The indictment accuses the firm of producing propaganda, pretending to be U.S. activists online and posting political content on social media in order to sow discord among American voters.

The special counsel's office argues that the risk of the evidence leaking or falling into the hands of foreign intelligence services, especially Russia, would assist the Kremlin's active "interference operations" against the United States.

“The substance of the government’s evidence identifies uncharged individuals and entities that the government believes are continuing to engage in interference operations like those charged in the present indictment,” prosecutors wrote.

Five guilty pleas, 20 indictments, and more than 100 charges. In just over a year, that's what investigations into the Trump campaign and Russia have generated.

Of them, what have anything to do with the special counsel’s chief focus: alleged meddling in the 2016 election by Russia and the Trump campaign’s suspected involvement? Would you believe none?

While it’s certainly possible that Mueller will make new indictments that go to the core of his case, what’s been revealed so far does not make a compelling brief for collusion.

Mueller has yet to indict anyone—let alone any Russian—for Russiagate’s underlying crime: theft of Democratic Party e-mails. And more than a year after they accused the Russian government of carrying it out, intelligence officials have yet to produce a shred of proof.

The January 2017 intelligence report begat an endless cycle of innuendo and unverified claims, inculcating the public with fears of a massive Russian interference operation and suspicions of the Trump campaign’s complicity.

The evidence to date casts doubt on the merits of this national preoccupation, and with it, the judgment of the intelligence, political, and media figures who have elevated it to such prominence.

“Absolutely nothing” (on Russian Collusion). Kimberley Strassel, The Wall Street Journal. The Russian Collusion fabrication is the greatest Hoax in the history of American politics. The only Russian Collusion was with Hillary and the Democrats!

Happy New Hey 19! ; Riddick, those last two words have rock n roll origins.

I would re Tweet the underwater scenario if I could. And I'd add a FB like too!

'Hey 19' by Steely Dan!

on

You two know it's true Riddick & Doka. If we way too few cannot post mind benders from time to time. No one will register anew that might inspire others to do the same in a lemming-like rush leaping onto the polished teak wood deck of our leak proof, unsinkable pirate ship!

MK II

"A gun is like a parachute. If you need one but don't have it, you'll probably never need one again!" from 'Gun Shots' on Twitter/ Check out http://malarino.com/ it's 95% Turmeric